Vegetable juicer



SP- l5, 1942- li wEs'roN A V2,295,922

. VEGBTABLE Jrcsn f Filed .my 15. 193e 2 sheets-sheet 1 167 x v r," .u Zhweqtor 'Roy' 'Weson A.

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sepa 1s, 1942. R, WEST@ 2,295,922

4 VEGETABL Jurcmz v y 'Filed July 15;'1952 l 2 shuts-sheet 2 IO f "2. 6 64. "V 1 H l v-z i ya Hoy Weston Fachausweis, 1942 aznaozz vaGa'rAnLn :mcsa

Roy Weston. Toppenish,

halt to Wash., assigner of one- B. R. Sturm, Toppenish, Wash. y .applicationV Julyis, 193s, semi No. massa 13 Claims.

My invention relates to a juicer, which may be termed a vegetable Juicer since it is intended to extract Juice. from various sorts of vegetables, such as spinach and carrots, but in the larger sense it is intended to extract juice from fruits as well, such `as apples or berries. Therefore. while it is termed a vegetable juicer, it is to-be understood 'that the term vegetable is intended to include y,fruits and the like, and indeed whatever product inay be pulped and Juiced by such va machine.

Such juices are highly regarded by many, 4but can not be or shou1d`not be prepared in advance.

When freshly prepared such Juices ,possess certain-values and'constituents which are evanescent. and to obtain their i'ull benefit it is considered necessary to Juice the vegetable just prior to consuming the Juice. It is therefore necessary, and it is an object of this invention, to provide such a Juicer which may be used by the individual, or bythe individual household, to prduce juices from all sorts of vegetables as and when required. It is also considered desirable by some. or

. under some circumstances, to mix the juices of two diilerent vegetables, whether to modify the taste of one or both or to add certain qualities not Again the mixture can' possessed by one alone. be best accomplished lf the two `fruits are Juiced simultaneously, and the Juices are caused to mingle immediately they are produced. It is therefore a further object of this invention to provide a. vegetable Juicer by the useof which two or more such fruits may be Juiced simultaneously and the Juices immediately mixed. Still a further object is to provide a machine so constructed that it will facilitate the mixing and act as a'stirrer, to some extent.

While many such juices are prepared by pulping and extracting from the pulp the Juice of vegetables such as carrots.- apples and the like, there are, occasions when 4it is desired, or some persons. may desire to be able upon occasion,l to

Juice citrus fruits, and by the same generaidef vice. It' is therefore an object of the present vinvention to provide a juicer which is suitable in- Y terchangeably to juice such vegetables as carrots or apples or spinach, on the one hand, and citrus fruits on the other'hand, and a device which is so interchangeable quicklyV and with a minimum of dimculty.

It is a further object to provide such a machine which employs a illter liner orbag, and to construct that filter bagI in such a way that it readily cooperates 50 electric motor 8.

with the remainder of the 55 (Ci. 14S- 3) device, yet is readily removable when it is desired to clean it', but which will be maintained properly in place within a rotary centrifugal basket, and which will be directed inwardly at the top and bottom to avoid' the splashing ot juice or pulp from the basket, yet which is readily disengageable for the passage of parts contained inside the filter bag but which are larger than the openings in the filter bag.

It is a further object to provide such a juicer in which the pulping and `iuicing is accomplished in one operation, and entirely within the centrifugal basket and filter bag, to the end that 4,the pulp is thrown centrifugally `in a finely divided 15 state against the inside of the illter bag and basket for immediate straining.

Still a further object is to provide means to regulate the degreeofpulping by varying readily the spacing between two cooperating disks, one-l of which is a pulping disk.

Generally-speaking, then. it is an object of the f invention to provide an arrangement of the various parts of such a Juicer, which willbe eil'ective to the end in view, simple. convenient, and comparatively inexpensive, and which will be rugged in use. v

With these and other objects in mind, as will appear hereafter, my invention comprises the y novel parts, and the novel combination and ar- 30. rangement thereof, as shown in the accompanying drawings, describedin this specification. and

as will be more particularly dened bythe claims which terminate the same.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention embodied -in a form which is at present preferred by me.

Figure 1 is an axial section through the juicer,

as a whole, showingv parts arranged for juicing spinach, for instance, or other vegetable.

Figure 2 isan axial section through the upper part of the juicer, showing parts arranged for juicing citrus fruit.

Figure 3 is in part a plan view, and in part an elevation of the `iuicer, elements being successively broken back to illustrate hidden parts.

A container 5 is divided into an upper and a lower chamber by a `conical bottom 50. In the lower chamber B. which is shown as closed, but whichy may be more or less open, is supported an is open at its top, receives a rotary perforate centrifugal basket 3 and two cooperating horizontal and parallel disks I and 2. `The disk l, which is the lower one, rotates, as does the basket I. being mounted upon the vertical, axially disposed Theupper chamber A, which motor shaft 60. The disk 2 is stationary. These disks are so formed and disposed that a vegetable fed to the'cornparatively small space between these disks is held by the stationary disk 2 and torn to small bits by the rapidly rotating disk I, or vice versa, and thus it is very rapidly chewed to a pulp, and `is thrown outwardly by the rotating disk the strainer basket 3. The strainer basket is provided with a filter liner or bag 4, upstanding against its inside wall, and the pulp is deposited upon this filter bag, which rotates with the basket 3. The particles of pulp are intercepted and strained through this'lter bag and through the holes in the wall of the basket 3, being received in the container 5 and finding its way to the bottom 50. There it collects and may be drawn off as required through the faucet 5|.

In its general features such juicers are known, but in various details of construction and relative arrangement, which will now be pointed out, the present juicer differs from other juicers.

The container 5 is open at its top, though its open top may be slightly restricted by an inwardly turned bead 52. The basket 3, provided with a conical bottom 30 and a depending flange 3|, is likewise freely open at its top, except as the top is silghtly restricted by an inturned bead 32, and the basket may also have a groove 33 just underneath its upper rim. Its outside diameter, however, is sufficiently less than the inside diameter of the bead 52 that the basket may be lifted bodily through the open top of the con--v tainer 5. When placed within the container a sleeve 34, constituting an integral part of the basket, surrounds the shaft 60 and seats upon the flange 6I, and the sleeve 34 is notched at its bottom to fit a cross pin 63 in the shaft, whereby the basket is rotated with the shaft 60. The basket has appreciable weight, and this in itself may be sufficient to hold the notch engaged with the cross pin, though the basket is preferably held down positively by other means which will be described later.

It is to be noted that the dependingange 3| rides close to the lowest point of the bottom of the container, and as it rotates it acts to stir juice which runs to and is collected in the bottom of the container, and if two or more vegetables are being juiced at one time, this flange 3| acts to stir and mix these two juices until withdrawn. In any event it prevents settling of anyL residue in the juice.

The filter liner 4 is preferably made of muslin or like material, and its main bodyis cylindrical and of a size to fit closely within the inner wall of the strainer basket 3. However, at its bottom it may be and preferably is provided with an inwardly directed flange 4I of similar material, and at its top it is preferably provided with an inwardly directed flange 42 of like material. The bottom flange 4I has a central opening just large enough to permit the sleeve 34 to pass through it. The central opening of the top flange 42 is somewhat larger, and each of these flanges, within its margin, receives an inwardly contractile annulus such as the rubber bands 43 and 44. These stretch their respective flanges, causing the bottom flange 4| to hug the conical bottom 30 of the basket, and to t as closely as may be to the sleeve 34. The rubber band 44 pulls the flange 42 inwardly, and each opening is thus contracted to a diameter less than that of the disks I and 2, which lie between the flanges and within the basagainst the vertical wall of against the wall of the basket, when the basket is stationary, and to afford resistance against which the contractile bandsj43 and 44 may pull, I provide outwardly expansive bands, such as the loops of coil spring 45 and 46. The spring loop 46 may lie in the groove 33. Here it affords resistance to the contractile band 44, effectively stretching the upper flange 42 ofthe filter bag. This construction holds the filter bag 4 in place at all times. When the basket is stationary the filter bag is held in place by the outward expansion and frictional effect created by the spring loops 45 and 46, particularly the latter. is rotating, the appreciable mass of these spring loops further assists in holding the filter bag in place. Obviously, the material of which these loops and bands are formed must be such as will be unaffected by, and as will not in turn affect, the juice.

The disk is a rotative disk, and is secured upon the upper end of the shaft well above the conical bottom 30, for easy removal. This may be accomplished in various ways. As shown, the disk is formed with an outer rim |0 and spider4 arms extending outwardly from a flat hub I2 (see Figure 3), and the face of the disk is formed of interwoven radial and circumferential wires I3. A perforated disk might be substituted for the construction shown, especially if finer pulping is desired, and such a disk is shown at I9 in Figure 2'. However, the principal consideration is that the disk I and its cooperating stationary disk 2 be so arranged and formed that each engages the vegetable which is fed into the small space between them, so that the vegetable is heid by one and shredded by the other. To this end the stationary disk 2 should be substantially equal in size to the disk I and is provided with -punched apertures 2D, with upstanding margins, as in any greater disk, and this serves to hold the vegetable stationary while it is shredded by the rapidly rotating disk I. The disk I9 is similarly but oppositely punched and formed.

To effect rotation of the disk I its hub I2 rests upon the upper end of the sleeve 34, and a shaft extension 64, having a threaded stem and flange 66, is threaded into the axially bored and threaded upper end of the shaft 60, clamping the hub I2 between the flange 66 and the end of the sleeve 34. At the same time this holds the notch in the sleeve 34 in rm engagement with the cross pin 63, and the lower end of the sleeve 34 into firm engagement with the ange 6I. To afford purchase to the extension 64 it may be provided with a cross hold 61 wherein a cross pin may be engaged to tighten the threaded end 65.

The stationary disk 2 is inserted through the y open top of the container 5, and through the ket. To hold the filter bag in operative position open top of the basket 3, as is also the rotary disk I. These two disks, therefore, must be of such diameter that they will pass through the open tops of the container and basket, respectively.

To support the disk 2, and to hold it stationary,

any convenient means may be provided, carried by the top of the lcontainer 5. Preferably the stationary disk 2 is supported by a chute or chutes 2| which extend down through the open top of the container and basket, and which is supported in its upper end in a cover plate 22, resting upon the top' of the container 5 through -an intermediary flange 23. The cover 22 is secured to the flange 23 by suitable easily removable means such as the screws 24, and the flange 23 in turn is provided with lugs 25 whereby, it is centered in the open top of the container, and it is when the basket the disk I,

secured in place by..a"plvoted screw and nut, indicated 4at 20, and received'in radial notches in the outer margin of the flange. It ispreferred that the inside diameter of the flange 2l be large enough to permit passage therethrough of 5. the disks I and 2, but not large enough that the basket I may pass through.

It is desirable to provide means to adjust the spacing between the `disks I and 2. Since the height ci' the disk I is'iixed, this may readily be 10 accomplished by' adjusting the height of the disk 2. The chute 2| is supported from the cover plate 22 by means of the cooperating clamping nuts 21 threaded upon the `exterior of the chute 2i at opposite sides of the cover plate. 'I'he lower 15 end of the chute is preferably secured permanently to the disk 2. By adjusting the chute vertically, through adjustment of the nuts 21, the spacing of the disk 2, relative to the disk I, is-adiusted.

Preferably two such vchutes 2| are employed, `each o'set from the' axis of the container, as is indicated in Figure. 3. This more firmly supports the disk 2 and prevents itsV rotation without undue strain on the supporting means. In 25 addition it permits two different vegetables-to be fed to the pulping disk simultaneously. The feeding of the vegetables is accomplished preferably by positive means such as the pushers or plungers.28. Of course, if it is not desired to y feed two different vegetables, double quantities of the same vegetable may be fed at one time, a part through one chute and a part through another. Alsoit will be understood that if for any reason it is desired t'o feed three or more different kinds of 35 vegetables at one time, three or more such chutesy may be provided. v

t Whenever it is desired to clean the disk 2 or or both, they may beremoved by removing the cover 22, without-removing the 40 flange 23. The basket 3 can then be removed by removing the flange 25. A11 parts are thus conveniently separable and accessible for cleaning.

With the stationary disk 2 and associated parts 45 removed, whether the rotary disk I is removed or not, theange 25 will serve as a support for a cup-like element 8, which is shown in Figure 2. The cup 8, provided with the flange 80 to seat upon the flange 23,`is provided with a bottom having the large apertures 8l. It is employed when the juicer is to be used for juicing citrus fruits, largely to prevent any possibility that the hand of the user may slip and engage the rapidly rotating pulping disk I9 (though the latter may 55 be removed, if desired), and to intercept and guide the juice downwardly to theproper level relative to and within the basket before releasing the juice to thebasketand lter bag. A special citrus juicerhead 9 is employed, this having a 60 stem 9| slotted, as indicated at 92, to fit over a cross pin 65 in the end of the shaft extension 64, the latter being axially bored for the reception ofthestem 9|.

To employ the citrus juicer it is only necessary 65 to remove .the stationary disk2 and its support, to slip into place in its stead the cup 8, holding it'by the same screws 24, and then to slip the citrus juicer head into place. The latter then rotates withV theshaft and a half of a citrus 70 fruit held upon thejuicer head 9, properly shaped to fit the particular citrus fruit, isjuiced in the usual way, and the pulp, falling through the perforations 80, is thrown centrifugally outwardly by the-rapidly rotating disk I9 (or by the bottom 75 against the inside of the the iilter bag l.

, stance Vby brackets motor and its bearings.

` chamber A, where it of4 the basket, if no rotating disk is in place) tects the user against accidental contact with the disk Il, as previusly noted.

It will be observed that the bottom 5I) is flanged upwardly, as indicated at 55, Figure 1, and that the conical bottom I0 of the basket is provided with a depending sleeve 35, which tits closely about the iiange or sleeve 55. This is intended as a trap to prevent access of juice to the motor through the hole through which the shaft 60 extends, though centrifugal force will largely prevent this in any case.

The motor 'is suitably supported within the bottom of the casing or container, as for in- 65, and preferably .UDOn the lower end of its shaft there is tted a drum or wheel 66, which may act somewhat in the nature of a flywheel, although the bottom 30 of the strainer basket has a similar eil'ect. The element 66, however, may balance the ro: ating weights above, and prevent undue wear on the It has a further purpose in that a brake shoe 61 is provided, operable by a buttonV 68 in opposition to a spring 69,

whereby the motor may be brought more quickly to a stop, when that is desired.

1 It is believed that the operation and the advantages of the machine will now be clear. The vegetablesias spinach, indicated at C) are fed to the space between 'the disks I and 2 through the chute or chutes 2|, and immediately they reach this space they are acted upon by the disk I, rotating at high speeds, and by the disk 2 which is stationary, and the vegetable is quickly torn to small bits, juice is forced through the two perforated discs, and the pulpis thrown by the centrifugal action of the disk I outwardly against the innerwall of the filter bag and strainer basket. The juice residue is extracted from the pulp by thecentrifugal action of the rapidly rotating basket, and runs down to the bottom of the may be drawn off from time to time by operation of the faucet 5I When the operation is completed, the motor switch (not shown) is turned o", the motor is stopped by the brake shoe 6l, and for cleaning the machine the cover 22 is removed, carrying with it the chutes and the stationarydisk 2. Ordinarily the band 44 expands to permit passage of the disk 2 through its central opening. The disk I will then be removed normally, for cleaning, by removing the shaft extension 64. The entire basket 3 may then be lifted out, having removed the Vflange 25, and the lter bag lifted from within it. If the citrus juicer is desired, first the basket:

and filter bag, and then the shaft extension Sli is replaced, and this may be replaced with or withoutthe rotary disk I or I 9. The cup 8 is now put in place, and then the citrus juicer head 9. The band 44., in this-use ofr the machine, is expanded by the Wall of the cup 8, as is seen in Figure 2.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A vegetable juicer comprising a container open at its top, a centrifugal strainer basket rotatively mounted within the container, a pulping disk disposed within and rotative with the basket, a citrus juicer head removably securable Within and rotatable with the basket, and a stationary cup depending within the container and basket, surrounding the citrus juicer head, and having a .perforate bottom disposed between the citrus juicer head and the rotary disk;

strainer basket 3 and The bottom of the cup 8 pro,

2. A vegetable juicer comprising an upstanding container, open at its top, a rotary shaft threaded at its upper end, and axially upstanding from the bottom of the container, ya strainer basket having' an axial sleeve engaged about said shaft to rotate therewith, and removable through the open top of the container, a shaft extension threaded upon the upper end of the shaft `and securing the basket, a pulping disk carried upon and rotatable with the shaft, and held by said shaft extension, disposed in a substantially horizontal plane within the basket, a citrus juicer head removably securable upon and rotatable with the shaft extension, within the basket, and a stationary cup depending within the container and basket, surrounding the citrus juicer head, and having a perforate lbottom disposed :between the citrus juicer head and the rotary pulping disk.

3. A vegeta-ble juicer comprising an upstanding container open at its top, an open top centrifugal strainer basket disposed within the container, a rotary shaft extending upward through the bottom of the container and basket,. and sey)cured to rotate the latter, a rotary pulping disk il secured upon said shaft, within the basket, a {stationary disk within the basket and slightly lspaced from the rotary disk, means depending through the open top of the container and basket ,to support the stationary disk, a filter bag fitting the bottom and sides of the basket, and extending inwardly at'its top, and a spring coil loop yexpansible radially, disposed within the basket I and bag, to maintain the bag in position, by such 1, expansion, and by centrifugal effect.

4. A vegetable juicer comprising an upstanding container o pen at its top, an open top centrifugal strainer basket disposed within the container, a rotary shaft extending upward through the lbottom of the container and basket, and secured to rotate the latter, a rotary pulping disk secured upon said shaft, within the basket, a stationary disk within the basket and slightly spaced from the rotary disk, means depending through the opentop of the .container and basket to support the stationary disk, a filter bag fitting the sides and bottom of the basket, apertured in its bottom to pass the shaft, and extending inwardly atthe top, surrounding the disk-supporting means, inwardly contractile means to draw the top and bottom openings of the bag inward to a diameter less than that of the disks, and readily releasable means to support the bag in place within the basket, prior to development of sufiicient centrifugal force for the purpose.

5. In combination with the centrifugal basket I of a vegetable juicer, a filter bag comprising aV cylindrical body of muslin or the like, of a size to fit within the basket, a top ange and a .bottom flange, each of like material and each having a central opening, a contractile rubber band in the margin of each central opening, to contract its flange, and au outwardly expansive ring fitting within the bag, at the base of each flange, and pressing outwardly against the wall of the basket, the flanges being held stretched between the inwardly and outwardly expansive elements.

6. A vegetable juicer, comprising a stationary container, a strainer basket supported therein for rotation about an upright axis, a pair of cooperating, superposed, closely spaced pulping members within said basket, the lower member being supported for rotation therewith and the upper member being stationary, a vegetable feeding tube carrying and extending upward from said upper pulping member, a cover for said container having container, a centrifugal strainer cage supported therein for rotation about an upright axis, rotatable pulping means supported within said...cage for rotation therewith, a motor for rotating said cage and pulping means, a heavy cage bottom member secured to the lower edge of said strainer cage and constituting a flywheel for said motor,

and a second iiywheel connected to the motor and disposed at the sidethereof remote from said cage, pulping means and cage bottom member, and torsionally balancing the same.

8. A vegetable juicer,` comprising a stationary container having a substantially conical bottom, a motor housed closely beneath such bottom raised centrally and inclined downwardly and outwardly therefrom, a motor shaft extending centrally upward through such bottom, a strainer basket disposed within said container and connected to said shaft for rotation thereby, said basket having a substantially conical bottom raised centrally and inclined downwardly and outwardly conforming to the bottom of said container, a pulping disk also connected to said shaft for rotation therewith, and disposed within said basket a substantial distance above the bottom thereof, and a stationary plate substantially parallel'to and cooperating with said pulping disk and supported thereabove from said container.

9. A vegetable juicer, comprising a. stationary container having 4a centrally apertured bottom and a flange upstanding therefrom, a motor disposed .below the container bottom and having a shaft extending upward therefrom through the aperture in said container bottom, a strainer' basket disposed within said container and connected to said shaft for rotation thereby, the

, bottom of said basket being disposed centrally closely adjacent the container bottom and having a iiange closely encircling said container bottom ange and extending downward a substantial distance below the upper edge thereof, and pulping means disposed within said basket.

10. A vegetable juicer, comprising a stationary container, a centrifugal strainer basket supported therein for rotation about an upright axis. a rotatable citrus juicer head mounted within the basket, and a rotatable disk disposed beneath said Juicer head and spaced a substantial distance above the bottom of the basket, operable to receivepulp from said juicer head and to hurl it outward against the inner wall of said basket.

11. A vegetable juicer comprising an upstanding container open at its top, a circular centrifugal strainer basket rotatably supported within the container, upon an upright axis, means within the container, upon an upright axis, means within the basket to pulp a vegetable, a circular filtering liner disposed within the basket, surrounding the pulping means, and means circularly disposed within the liner unrestrained against radially inward movement, and of considerable mass for pressing the filtering liner against the wall of the basket by the centrifugal force of said means, to hold the liner in operative position.

12. Av vegetable juicer, comprising an upstanding container, a circular centrifugal strainer basket rotatably supported within the container, upon an upright axis, means within the basket to pulp a vegetable; a ltering liner within the periphery of the basket and surrounding the pulping means, and a spring band oi' considerable mass disposed about the upper part of said liner. and pressing the liner toward the wall of the basket both by its resilience and by the centritugal force oi' the rotating band, to hold such upper part of the liner in place.

13. A vegetable Juicer comprising an upstanding container, 'a circular centrifugal strainer basket rotatably supported within the container upon an upright axis, means within the basket to 'pulp a. vegetable. a circular ltering liner within theperiphery of the basket, surrounding the pulping means, contractile meanscarried by an edge i of the liner, drawing such edge radially inward,

and a. flexible band disposed within said liner and spaced substantially directlyradially out- 

